Retarding device for persons escaping from alpha submerged vessel



March 25, 1930. R, A TAYLOR 7 ,896

RETARDING DEVICE FOR PERSONS ESCAPING FROM A SUBMERGED VESSEL Filed Feb. 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l A iiorney fi gliizoizdli, fag 1 March 25, 1930. R' A TAYL R 1,751,896

RETARDING DEVICE FOR PERS ON$ ESCAPING FROM A SUBMEHGED VESSEL Filed Feb, 8, 1929 2 She ets-Sheet 2 Inventor E0 03 0: la /Z 7 920)" M Attorney Patented Mar. 25, 1930 unset PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND A. TAYLOR, OE FREDERICK, MARYLAND RETARDING DEVICE FOR PERSONS ESCAPING FROM A SUBMERGED VESSEL Application filed February The present invention relates to a device for use by persons escaping from a submarine or other submerged vessel having for its prime object to provide means so that the person may regulate the speed at which he rises through the water.

It is well known that if a person with life preserver means and other paraphernalia leaves a submerged vessel at a rather great depth he would rise through the water at a speedentirely too great for safety but with the present apparatus it is possible for such person to regulate the speed at which he rises in the water.

A still further very important object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of this nature which is comparatively simple in its construction, strong and dur- 7 able, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, and thoroughly efficient and reliable in use and operation.

With the above and numerous other objects in View as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel I features of construction and in the combinaof one of the valves.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes a concavoconvex body with the concave side disposed upwardly. This body is collapsible and may be made of any suitable material, the material not being of the essence of the invention.

This body is disposed about a disk 6 from which rises a post 7. A pair of loops 8 are mounted on the upper surface of the disk 6 one to each side of the post 7 for receiving the 8, 1929. Serial No. 338,484.

feet of a person standing on the disk. A plurality of cables 9 are fastened to the outer edge of the body and to a ring 10 fastened to the post 7.

This body 5 is provided with a plurality of openings 11 associated with which are flat valves 12 hingedly mounted at their inner ends on the disk 6. The outer ends of the flat valves that is the free ends thereof have attached thereto cables 14, the upper ends of which are attached to a ring 15 slidable on the post 7 above the ring 10 and. having a circular handle bar 16 fastened thereto in any suitable manner so that the person standing on the disk 6 may control the ring 15 by the handle bar.

Thus by lifting the handle bar the fiat valves are opened. It is preferable to provide cables 17 attached. to the free ends of the flat valves 12 and to the body to limit the opening of the flat valves.

In Figure 2 I have indicated in dotted lines an escapement tube 19 of a submarine showing a person 20 in dotted lines standing on the disk and grasping the handle bars 16 with the body 5 collapsed about the lower portion of the person.

N ow as the person rises in the water naturally the body will open up acting somewhat like an ordinary parachute in the air 30 but in the reverse direction and the speed of the person will be materially retarded.

If the person desires to rise faster it is only necessary to raise the handle bar 16 thereby sliding the ring 15 upwardly and opening the flat valves 12 the desired dis tance so that a portion of the water in the body 5 may escape.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantages of this invention will now be fully understood without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail merely for the purposes of exemplification since in actual practice it will attain the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description. It is apparent that changes I in the details of construction, the sizes and tached to the valve, a ring slidable on the post and said last mentioned cable being attached to the ring, a pair of loops on the upper side, of the stand so that a person may place his feet therein. t

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

RAYMOND A. TAYLOR.

prising a stand, a post rising from the stand, I I

a body disposed about the standyope'nings in the body, valves associated with the open ing, andmeans operable fromthe post for opening the valves.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a stand, a postrising from the stand, a body disposed about the stand, openings in the body, valves associated with the opening, and means operable from the post for opening the valves, said body being collapsible.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a stand, a post rising from the stand, a body disposed aboutthe stand, openings in the body, valves associated with the opening, and means operable from the post for opening'the valves, said body being collapsible, and of a concave-convex construction with the concaved side upwardly when extended.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a stand, a post rising from the stand, a body disposed about the stand, openings in the body, valves associated with the opening, and means operable from the post for opening the. valves, said body being collapsible, and of a concavo-oonvex construction with the concaved side upwardlywhen I extended, a plurality of cables attached to the outer edge of the body andengaged with the upper portion of the post.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a stand, a post rising from the stand, a body, disposedabout the stand, openings in the body, valves associated'with the opening, and means operable fromvthe post for opening the valves, said body being collapsible, and of a concavo-convex construction with the concaved side upwardly when extended, aplurality of cables attached to the outer edge. of the, body and engaged with the upper portion of the post, said means for operating the valve comprising cables attached to the valve, a ring slidable on the post and said last mentioned cable being attached to the ring.

6. An apparatus of the class described comprising a stand, a post rising from the stand, a body disposed about the stand, openings in the body, valves associated with the opening, and means operable from the post for opening the valves, said body being collapsible, and of a concavo-convex construction with the concaved side upwardly when extended, a plurality of cables attached to the outer edge ofthe body and engaged with the upper portion of the post,'said means for. operating the valve comprising; cables at- 

